1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

[maverick1]

I know, junking a classic Silver Line <br /><br />Heres the deal, I getting a free 1967 Silver Line 16' DeVille runabout. I finally got time to look at it closely today and I realized that it needs everything. Even the wood backing to the controls was rotted. The seats are rotted and cracked, the previous owner put plywood over the existing floor (probably rotted), plus the whole boat stinks like something died in it.<br /><br />This is what I'm thinking. Save the 110hp motor and trailer and junk the boat itself. I'm considering ebay but I don't think pictures could show just how bad this thing is. The only thing it has going is that the glass is in great shape. <br /><br />Do you think ebay would even be worth the time without the trailer or motor?<br /><br />I do not have time, money, or space to do everything this boat needs.<br /><br />So, what should I do? I know it should be against the law to junk a classic boat like this but I just don't know...

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: 1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

Ebay isn't worth the effort. I'd tell you that right now. You probably wouldn't get a red cent for it, if you offered to tow it across the country to someone else's house. If you want to fix it, the answers are all here. If you want to figure out if it's worth fixing, you'd best decide that you really, REALLY love this boat beforehand. Figure for 3 sheets marine grade or treated plywood, epoxy or polyester resin, glass, more wood for the stringers, seats, bases, paint and primer???, dashwork???, deck hardware???, transom???, and the list will go on. Furthermore, if you don't already have a load of tools, you'll buy them. I'm 3,500 dollars into a restoration and I'm just going to turn it around and sell. I'm still learning, and I learned that it cost more than originally planned on, and if I'd saved a couple more months, I'd have bought something bigger that would have sold for significantly more than I'll get. On the other hand, I have a 67 Formula Thunderbird sitting outside the garage that's a complete rebuild, too, and I'm going to fix it for me. And when it's all said and done, I'll be a satisfied boat owner who knows that every single thing in that boat is built to last my lifetime and probably the lifetime of my kids. Good luck.

 

[Mark42]

Re: 1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

There is a great satisfaction to taking a piece of junk and making a nice ride from it.<br /><br />Before hauling it to the dump, do a good inspection of the hull and deck. Then see how long it would take to remove the "keeper" items like unique trim and hardware, then gut the rest. Puttin all new stringers, floor, carpet, seats, steering, gauges, wire, lighting, paint, etc is a lot easier and quicker than trying to restore every rotten part.<br /><br />Just something to think about.

 

[kevin500]

Re: 1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

Where In Mn is the boat? How far from the border going north?

 

[tengals123]

Re: 1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

by the sounds of it your idea to save the donk and throw the boat is prolly a wise one IMO. But, I also agree with Mark42, we are all doing it! depends on how much 1.money, 2.time, 3.if you really love the boat. If you cant answer all three with a positive YES then, i'd chuck the hull and look for something else.<br /><br />cheers

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: 1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

There are a few ways to look at the condition of the boat. One view is that the boat is far gone. The other being.. that it is already far into a self de-construction to make the restoration that much easier. I am currently learning from my restoration that rotten wood comes off fiberglass way easier than wood in decent condition. For example if you were replacing the entire floor because 3/4ths were rotted. It is also an opportunity to replace it with better than factory materials<br /><br />The other point is, no one is saying you HAVE to do the project now. If you really like it and you know you want to do a quality restoration. Then why not wait a while until $$ and time permit? Just don't turn it into a planter! <br /><br />Good luck

 

[JasonJ]

Re: 1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

I was in the same exact "boat" as you. I bought my Silverline for the motor and ended up making a project of it. If the end result would be something you won't be interested in, then don't bother. Rebuilding to sell is fruitless, you'll never make enough money off of it to recoup the time you'll spend. You can always make money, but you will never get your time back, ever. In the end, you have to really want the end result for the work to be worth it. Otherwise, junk it and move on. Good luck.

 

[maverick1]

Re: 1967 Silver Line DeVille- Junk It?

Kevin- its in the twin cities area, but I won't be able to do anything until June anyways (when I officially get the title).<br /><br />The more I think about it the more I'll probably junk it. I would love the boat if I restored it but the problem is that (a)I don't have a garage or space to work on it in, and (b)I don't have that much money to spend on rebuilding an entire boat.<br /><br />I wish I had the resources to rebuild it since its a neat little classic that would fly with the 110hp but at this time in my life I don't (just got done with college, searching for a job, needing to move out, etc...).<br /><br />Now its just a matter of finding a hull in my price range that's in good condition and that can handle 110hp...